New power : how movements build, businesses thrive, and ideas catch fire in our hyper-connected world

"For the vast majority of human history, the rules of power were clear. To get ahead or get things done, you mastered "old power": closed, inaccessible, and leader-driven. Once gained, old power is jealously guarded, and the powerful spend it carefully, like currency. But our ubiquitous connectivity has made possible a new form of power, one that operates differently, like a current. "New power" is power made by many; it is open, participatory, and peer-driven. Like water or electricity, it is most forceful when it surges. The challenge with new power is not to hoard it but to channel it. New power is what fuels the rise of participatory platforms like Facebook and YouTube, peer-based services like Uber and Airbnb, and rapid-fire social movements like #BlackLivesMatter. It propelled the unlikely success of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign and the unlikelier victory of Donald Trump in 2016. And it gives ISIS its power to propagate its brand and distribute its violence. Even old power institutions like the papacy, NASA, and LEGO have figured out how to channel new power to stage improbable reinventions. In New Power, the social visionaries Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms provide the tools for using new power to successfully spread an idea, lead a movement, or build a career in the twenty-first century. Drawing on examples from business, politics, popular culture, and social justice, they explain the new world we live in--a world of crowds, chaos, and hyperconnection. A world in which, more and more, everyone expects to participate"--;Welcome to the new power world -- Thinking old power, thinking new power -- From sound-bites to meme-drops: how ideas spread -- How to build a crowd -- What makes new power communities work (and why they sometimes don't) -- What makes new power communities work (and how they fuse with the wider world) -- The participation premium -- Taking the turn from old to new power -- Leadership -- The art of blending power -- New power at work -- The future. In This Indispensable Guide To Navigating The Twenty-first Century, Two Visionary Thinkers Reveal The Unexpected Ways Power Is Changing--and How New Power Is Reshaping Politics, Business, And Life. Why Do Some Leap Ahead While Others Fall Behind In Our Chaotic, Connected Age? In New Power, Jeremy Heimans And Henry Timms Confront The Biggest Stories Of Our Time--the Rise Of Mega-platforms Like Facebook And Uber; The Out-of-nowhere Victories Of Obama And Trump; The Unexpected Emergence Of Movements Like #metoo--and Reveal What's Really Behind Them: The Rise Of New Power. For Most Of Human History, The Rules Of Power Were Clear: Power Was Something To Be Seized And Then Jealously Guarded. This Old Power Was Out Of Reach For The Vast Majority Of People. But Our Ubiquitous Connectivity Makes Possible A Different Kind Of Power. New Power Is Made By Many. It Is Open, Participatory, And Peer-driven. It Works Like A Current, Not A Currency--and It Is Most Forceful When It Surges. The Battle Between Old And New Power Is Determining Who Governs Us, How We Work, And Even How We Think And Feel. New Power Shines Fresh Light On The Cultural Phenomena Of Our Day, From #blacklivesmatter To The Ice Bucket Challenge To Airbnb, Uncovering The New Power Forces That Made Them Huge. Drawing On Examples From Business, Activism, And Pop Culture, As Well As The Study Of Organizations Like Lego, Nasa, Reddit, And Ted, Heimans And Timms Explain How To Build New Power And Channel It Successfully. They Also Explore The Dark Side Of These Forces: The Way Isis Has Co-opted New Power To Monstrous Ends, And The Rise Of The Alt-right's Intensity Machine. In An Era Increasingly Shaped By New Power, This Groundbreaking Book Offers Us A New Way To Understand The World--and Our Role In It.--jacket. Welcome To The New Power World -- Thinking Old Power, Thinking New Power -- From Sound Bites To Meme Drops : How Ideas Spread -- How To Build A Crowd -- What Makes New Power Communities Work (and Why They Sometimes Don't) -- What Makes New Power Communities Work (and How They Fuse With The Wider World) -- The Participation Premium -- Taking The Turn From Old To New Power -- Leadership -- The Art Of Blending Power -- New Power At Work -- The Future. Jeremy Heimans & Henry Timms. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. NOW A NATIONAL BESTSELLER The definitive guide to spreading ideas, building movements, and leaping ahead in our chaotic, connected age. Get the book New York Times columnist David Brooks calls "the best window I’ve seen into this new world." Why do some leap ahead while others fall behind in our chaotic, connected age? In New Power, Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms confront the biggest stories of our time--the rise of mega-platforms like Facebook and Uber; the out-of-nowhere victories of Obama and Trump; the unexpected emergence of movements like #MeToo--and reveal what's really behind them: the rise of "new power." For most of human history, the rules of power were clear: power was something to be seized and then jealously guarded. This "old power" was out of reach for the vast majority of people. But our ubiquitous connectivity makes possible a different kind of power. "New power" is made by many. It is open, participatory, and peer-driven. It works like a current, not a currency--and it is most forceful when it surges. The battle between old and new power is determining who governs us, how we work, and even how we think and feel. New Power shines fresh light on the cultural phenomena of our day, from #BlackLivesMatter to the Ice Bucket Challenge to Airbnb, uncovering the new power forces that made them huge. Drawing on examples from business, activism, and pop culture, as well as the study of organizations like Lego, NASA, Reddit, and TED, Heimans and Timms explain how to build new power and channel it successfully. They also explore the dark side of these forces: the way ISIS has co-opted new power to monstrous ends, and the rise of the alt-right's "intensity machine." In an era increasingly shaped by new power, this groundbreaking book offers us a new way to understand the world--and our role in it. "For the vast majority of human history, the rules of power were clear. To get ahead or get things done, you mastered "old power": closed, inaccessible, and leader-driven. Once gained, old power is jealously guarded, and the powerful spend it carefully, like currency. But our ubiquitous connectivity has made possible a new form of power, one that operates differently, like a current. "New power" is power made by many; it is open, participatory, and peer-driven. Like water or electricity, it is most forceful when it surges. The challenge with new power is not to hoard it but to channel it. New power is what fuels the rise of participatory platforms like Facebook and YouTube, peer-based services like Uber and Airbnb, and rapid-fire social movements like #BlackLivesMatter. It propelled the unlikely success of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign and the unlikelier victory of Donald Trump in 2016. And it gives ISIS its power to propagate its brand and distribute its violence. Even old power institutions like the papacy, NASA, and LEGO have figured out how to channel new power to stage improbable reinventions. In New Power, the social visionaries Jeremy Heimans and Henry Timms provide the tools for using new power to successfully spread an idea, lead a movement, or build a career in the twenty-first century. Drawing on examples from business, politics, popular culture, and social justice, they explain the new world we live in--a world of crowds, chaos, and hyperconnection. A world in which, more and more, everyone expects to participate"-- Provided by publisher